Disk carrier and method

ABSTRACT

A disk holder includes a back panel and a cover. The back panel defines a disk holder portion having a generally circular shape and a holder support portion. The cover is connected to the back panel and disposed over the disk holder portion such that a pocket is defined between the back panel and the cover. The pocket is adapted to retain at least one disk-shaped object. A connection device is connected to the holder support portion and adapted to affix the disk holder to a person.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to sports equipment, including but not limited to equipment used to carry sports instruments, such as disks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disk golf is played with a variety of different types of disks, which include drivers, mid range disks and Putter-type disks, as is known. A wide assortment of disks are carried by the player around the range during a game. The assortment of disks makes it difficult to keep track of individual disks, to organize them such that an individual disk may be readily retrieved, and to carry the assortment of disks around the course during a round.

In the past, certain players have opted to carry their disks in both hands while moving around the course, and drop all but one disk to the ground before taking a shot. These players are then required to retrieve their disks from the ground after taking a shot before proceeding. In muddy conditions, one can appreciate that the dropped disks become dirty. Moreover, the chore of collecting disks from the ground after each shot can be time consuming. In light of such inconvenience, players have used back packs, purse type bags and disposable plastic shopping bags to carry their disks around the course, but it can be appreciated that these solutions are cumbersome. Backpacks and purse type bags must be shoulder slung, handled and opened more than seventy times during a typical round, and may also become entangled during the retrieving of the player's disk in normal play. Moreover, backpacks, purses and plastic bags are often also set on the ground during a shot becoming wet and dirty and then must be retrieved before continuing to the next shot.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing issues may be alleviated or avoided by the a device and method for carrying disks in accordance with the present disclosure. The disclosed device carries disks in a practical, organized, easy to use fashion, is integrated with the player, and requires little to no manual manipulation that may inhibit the player during the game. A device in accordance with the present disclosure solves such shortcomings of known methods and devices by integrating the storage, retrieval, organization, and carrying functions into a clip-on product that is worn during the game. The clip-on carrier or holster stores the disk and permits easy access to the disks during play. The player disks are stored, arranged, and carried on the player. This allows for a hands free method of disk management with less gear to keep track of during a round of disk golf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an outline view of one embodiment for a disk carrier in accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the disk carrier in accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the disk carrier in accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a section view of the disk carrier having disks placed therein in accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a disk carrier in accordance with the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an outline view of a disk holder 100 in accordance with the disclosure. The disk holder 100 of the illustrated embodiment generally has a clamshell construction that includes a back panel 102 connected with a cover 104 to define a pocket 106 therebetween. When used, one or more disks (not shown) are deposited and retained within the pocket 106 while disk holder 100 is attached to a player's garment. Moreover, the disk holder 100 of the illustrated embodiment includes additional features for conveniently securing other articles useful to the player, such as towels, and so forth. Reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 is made in the description that follows, where structural features of the disk holder 100 are denoted by the same reference numerals in each of the figures.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the back panel 102 defines a disk diameter portion 108 and a holder support portion 110. Each portion 108 and 110 has a generally semi-circular shape, as shown. An outer diameter 112 of the disk diameter portion 108 is arranged to be large enough to accommodate the largest diameter disks, for example, the disk 200 shown in FIG. 4 in cross section. The holder support portion 110 is narrow relative to the disk diameter portion 108 and includes a belt clip 114 formed by a U-shaped slit 116 that is cut through the material of the support portion 110 and that terminates at two stress relief openings 118. It is contemplated that the belt clip 114 may be made as a separate component that is connected to the disk holder 100 by any type of suitable connection arrangement, such as snaps, rivets, stitches, adhesives, and so forth. Alternatively, a strap may be used in addition to or instead of the belt clip 114 to provide the player with the option of hanging the disk holder 100 from a shoulder or neck. The holder support portion 110 further includes a hole 120 extending through the thickness of the material of the holder 100 that can be used to hang the disk holder 100 when not in use.

The disk holder portion 108 forms one side of the pocket 106 and, in the illustrated embodiment, is substantially flat and lies on the same plane as the holder support portion 110. The disk holder portion 108 includes one or more openings 122 formed peripherally along the outer edge thereof. The openings 122 are optional and may be used to accommodate hooks, clips, or other devices that can retain towels, tools, water bottles, or any other instruments a player may find useful during a game. In can be appreciated that in alternate embodiments the openings and 122 may be used instead of or in addition to other features, such as hooks, clips, rings, or other such elements connected to or associated with the disk holder in a known fashion.

The cover 104 is generally cup shaped, as best shown in FIG. 3, and is connected to the back panel 102 of the disk holder 100 peripherally along its outer diameter 112. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of rivets 124 is disposed at predetermined radial locations around the outer, circular portion of the back panel 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover 104 includes side openings 126 to provide access to the openings 122, a bottom opening 128, and an access opening 130 radially extending generally around a projected center 132 of the circular shape of the outer diameter 112 of the disk holder portion 108. When in use, a player may select and push a disk (not shown) disposed within the pocket 106 upward by reaching through the bottom opening 128 with one or more fingers. Thereafter, the player may pull the disk out from the pocket by grabbing hold of the disk through the access opening 130.

The pocket 106, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, has a depth 134 that is arranged to accommodate a plurality of disks, for example, the disks 200 and 202 shown in cross section in FIG. 4. The depth 134 of the pocket 106 may be selected to accommodate a desired number of disks of different sizes, with the outer diameter 112 selected to accommodate the largest diameter disk.

An alternative embodiment for a disk holder 500 is shown in FIG. 5. Like or similar features or elements of the disk holder 500 that are the same or equivalent to corresponding elements in the disk holder 100 are denoted by the same reference numerals as previously used for simplicity. In operation, the disk holder 500 functions in a similar fashion as the disk holder 100, but due to its structure provides greater flexibility in the size and number of disks that may be retained thereby.

More specifically, the disk holder 500 includes a back panel 102 forming a plurality of openings 502. The openings 502 are disposed adjacent the outer diameter 112 and are used to suitably support an end of a cord 504, for example, an elastic- or rubber-type cord. The cords 504 may be connected by any suitable arrangement to the back panel 102 on one end. On another end, the cords 504 are connected to a ring 506, although other structures may be used, for example, a plate having holes for securing the ends of the cords 504 together (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the cords 504 have knots 508 securing each cord 504 to the ring 506.

When in use, the disk holder 500 may retain one or more disks (not shown) that are placed between the back panel 102 and the ring 506 under the cords 504. Due to their elastic nature, the cords 504 may resiliently apply the force necessary on the ring 506 to hold the disks in place against the back panel 102. One can appreciate that the flexible and resilient nature of the cords 504 can accommodate disks of varied sizes and thickness, as well as allow the stretching necessary to accommodate multiple disks in a stack arrangement. Access to the retained disks may be provided around the diameter 112 for the player to select and pull the desired disk from the stack.

Even though four cords 504 are shown, fewer or more cords may be used. Moreover, even though the back panel 102 is illustrated as flat, in an alternative embodiment the back panel may include a ledge or other features arranged to retain one or more disks into contact with the back panel 102. In all embodiments described thus far, the disk holder may be made of a variety of different materials, including plastic, metal, leather, fabric, composite materials, and so forth.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. 

1. A disk holder, comprising: a back panel that includes a disk holder portion having a generally circular shape and a holder support portion; a cover connected to the back panel and disposed over the disk holder portion; a pocket defined between the back panel and the cover, the pocket adapted to retain at least one disk-shaped object; and a connection device connected to the holder support portion and adapted to affix the disk holder to a person.
 2. The disk holder of claim 1, wherein the cover is generally shaped in the form of a cup, and wherein the back panel is generally flat.
 3. The disk holder of claim 1, further including at least one hole formed in the back panel, the at least one hole adapted to provide an attachment point for the disk holder.
 4. The disk holder of claim 1, further including an opening formed in the cover, the opening adapted to provide access to the pocket for removal of objects disposed therein.
 5. The disk holder of claim 1, further including an access opening formed in the cover and extending radially over a portion of the cover disposed adjacent a centerpoint of the generally circular shape of the disk holder portion of the back panel.
 6. The disk holder of claim 1, wherein the cover includes an elastic cord connected at one end thereof to the back panel, wherein the pocket is defined between the back panel and the cord.
 7. The disk holder of claim 6, wherein the cover includes a second cord connected at one end to the back panel and connected at another end to a free end of the elastic cord, such that resilient stretching of the cords provides a retention force to at least one disk disposed in the pocket.
 8. A device for retaining a stack of disks, comprising: a back panel that includes a disk holder portion having a generally circular shape and a holder support portion; a cover connected to the back panel and disposed over the disk holder portion; a generally cylindrically shaped pocket defined between the back panel and the cover, the pocket adapted to retain the stack of disks; and a connection device connected to the holder support portion and adapted to affix the device to a person wearing the device.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the cover is generally shaped in the form of a cup forming a generally cylindrical cavity, which at least partially defines the generally cylindrically shaped pocket when the cover is connected to the back panel.
 10. The device of claim 8, further including at least one hole formed in the back panel, the at least one hole adapted to provide an attachment point for the device.
 11. The device of claim 8, further including an opening formed in the cover, the opening adapted to provide access to the pocket for removal of individual disks from the stack of disks disposed within the pocket.
 12. The device of claim 8, further including an access opening formed in the cover and extending radially over a portion of the cover disposed adjacent a centerpoint of the generally circular shape of the disk holder portion of the back panel.
 13. A method of carrying a plurality of disks on a person, comprising: arranging the plurality of disks into a stack; placing the stack into a pocket defined between a back panel and a cover of a disk holder; and attaching the disk holder onto a garment worn by the person.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing access openings in the disk holder for selecting and retrieving an individual disk from the stack.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein attaching the disk holder onto the garment includes using at least one of a belt clip and a hanging strap.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the pocket is defined between the back panel and a cup-shaped cover connected to the back panel.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the pocket is defined between the back panel and at least one elastic cord connected at one end thereof to the back panel and extending over a portion of the back panel retaining the stack. 